The Effect of Bio-Based Polyamide 10.10 and Treated Fly Ash on Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Polyamide 6 Properties

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Engineering
• Sustainable Materials

Background:

• Growing environmental concerns drive industries towards sustainable materials and waste repurposing.
• Bio-based polymers offer alternatives to synthetic polymers, aligning with regulatory demands and eco-friendly practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of treated fly ash and bio-based polyamide 10.10 (PA10) on glass fiber (GF)-reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6) composites.
• To develop a composite material that partially replaces glass fiber in PA6-30G composites while preserving mechanical integrity.

Main Methods:

• Melt processing was employed to create composites of PA6, PA10, treated fly ash, and GF.
• Characterization included thermal, morphological, and mechanical property analyses.
• Structural and interfacial interactions were examined using complementary analyses.

Main Results:

• Composites processed via melt processing exhibited enhanced mechanical properties compared to standard PA6-30G.
• Significant improvements were noted in impact strength (18% increase) and tensile strain at break (35% increase) with PA10 addition.
• Morphological analyses confirmed strong interfacial adhesion within the composite matrix.

Conclusions:

• The developed PA6/PA10 hybrid composite demonstrates superior mechanical performance, particularly in impact strength and tensile strain.
• The findings suggest that this hybrid composite is a promising, sustainable material for automotive applications.
• The study validates the potential of incorporating bio-based materials and waste products into high-performance composites.